Not a week goes by that I don’t get questions about veterinary
careers. What are the requirements for entrance to vet school? How
difficult is it to get into vet school? How many years does it
take? Is the pay worth the time spent in school and in
training?
Not a week goes by that I don’t get questions about veterinary careers. What are the requirements for entrance to vet school? How difficult is it to get into vet school? How many years does it take? Is the pay worth the time spent in school and in training?
I visit University of California, Davis, my alma mater, several times a year. And each time, I get a chance to reflect on my educational experience. The memories of those earlier years always bring a smile. I loved that place and am forever grateful for what I learned there. My education ranks with the best in the world. And I would encourage anyone interested in veterinary medicine to consider going to school at Davis. A DVM degree opens the door to thousands of different opportunities. And our profession needs talented people to fill some very important positions right now!
Let’s answer some of those earlier questions. It’s fairly simple. The work is hard. The time spent in school is long (a student must go through at least 7 years of college-level education to get their DVM degree). But for the individual that truly has a passion to become a veterinarian, the time passes rather quickly. And the pay is generous enough that graduate vets live a comfortable lifestyle. No one gets rich in this profession. But for many of us, it’s a career choice based on a passionate love for animals, people and science.
Veterinary schools in this country are desperately trying to find more applicants for their programs. Not that they have a shortage. But higher numbers of interested applicants gives these schools a larger group from which to choose prospective students. They want to have a diversified group of individuals in each class so that their graduates will work in all fields of our profession.
And there are so many things a graduate veterinarian can do besides working in private practice. These positions are not only well-paid, but vital to the overall health of our nation’s animals and people.
We’re talking about veterinary careers in public health. Veterinarians help maintain the safety of our food supply and health care. They’ve been vital in the development of a strategy to deal with the West Nile virus threat as well as the potential dangers of avian influenza. These graduate veterinarians are absolutely essential and our government knows it. So as you might imagine, they are paid well for their work. It’s a great career with good pay and excellent retirement benefits for the veterinarian that chooses to work in the public sector.
And the same can be said for veterinary careers in other countries. Let me tell you about an experience I had last month.
Peg and I were gone for the month of June, traveling with our son in Europe. This was my first trip there, and it was a real awakening. We visited England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Austria and Hungary. We had a chance to see a lot, walking the streets of London, Nuremberg, Munich, Copenhagen and Budapest.
One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to Cambridge University in England. I didn’t realize that that this university is comprised of 29 different colleges including a college of veterinary medicine. Wandering through Cambridge, we were in awe of the beauty of this institution, the architecture, and the history that goes with it. Famous authors, actors and world leaders have graced the halls of its colleges.
We saw Cambridge’s veterinary school and here I was, looking in and reflecting on the education that veterinarians everywhere receive before they step out into the world to practice the art of healing. From these schools, veterinarians walk away with a wealth of knowledge and a desire to help animals and people. Graduates can work in private practice or public health. This truly is a noble profession with many opportunities.
Vet schools will soon begin to accept applications for the school year starting in the fall of 2008. Application deadlines are usually the beginning of November. Now would be a great time to find out more about opportunities in the field. The dean’s office at U.C. Davis can be reached by phone, (530) 752-1383.
